WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control When WHO was established in 1948,its the most rapidly embraced treaties in the To reflect the complexities of the tobacco Member States incorporated the power history of the United Nations,with 173 Parties epidemic,as well as the challenge of to negotiate treaties into its Constitution. covering 87%of the world's population. countering a very well-funded and powerful This power remained dormant until It contains legally binding obligations for multinational industry,WHO FCTC negotiators 1996,when the World Health Assembly its Parties,addresses the need to reduce included broad,encompassing treaty adopted a resolution requesting the WHO both demand for and supply of tobacco, provisions to address demand reduction and Director-General to initiate development and provides a comprehensive direction for supply reduction issues in Artices 6 and 8-17: of a framework convention for global implementing tobacco control policy at all tobacco control in accordance with the levels of government.The treaty's governing Article 6.Price and tax measures to reduce WHO Constitution.This unprecedented body is the Conference of the Parties(COP). the demand for tobacco. request was made in response to the rapid an intergovemmental entity composed of all Article 8.Protection from exposure to globalization of the tobacco epidemic Parties with responsibility for guiding and tobacco smoke. and the growing magnitude of the health promoting effective implementation of the Article 9.Requlation of the contents of burden associated with tobacco use,which WHO FCTC.As part of this responsibility, tobacco products kills nearly 6 million people and causes the COP considers the reports submitted Article 10.Requlation of tobacco product hundreds of billions of dollars in economic periodically by each Party,in accordance disclosures. damage worldwide every year. with Article 21 of the treaty,and the global Article 11.Packaging and labelling of summary prepared by the Convention tobacco products. Today,the WHO Framework Convention on Secretariat to review the progress,successes Article 12.Education,communication, Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC)(1)is one of and challenges of implementation. training and public awareness. 12 WHO REPORT ON THE GLOBAL TOBACCO EPIDEMIC,201112 WHO REPORT ON THE GLOBAL TOBACCO EPIDEMIC, 2011 WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control When WHO was established in 1948, its Member States incorporated the power to negotiate treaties into its Constitution. This power remained dormant until 1996, when the World Health Assembly adopted a resolution requesting the WHO Director-General to initiate development of a framework convention for global tobacco control in accordance with the WHO Constitution. This unprecedented request was made in response to the rapid globalization of the tobacco epidemic and the growing magnitude of the health burden associated with tobacco use, which kills nearly 6 million people and causes hundreds of billions of dollars in economic damage worldwide every year. Today, the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) (1) is one of the most rapidly embraced treaties in the history of the United Nations, with 173 Parties covering 87% of the world’s population. It contains legally binding obligations for its Parties, addresses the need to reduce both demand for and supply of tobacco, and provides a comprehensive direction for implementing tobacco control policy at all levels of government. The treaty’s governing body is the Conference of the Parties (COP), an intergovernmental entity composed of all Parties with responsibility for guiding and promoting effective implementation of the WHO FCTC. As part of this responsibility, the COP considers the reports submitted periodically by each Party, in accordance with Article 21 of the treaty, and the global summary prepared by the Convention Secretariat to review the progress, successes and challenges of implementation. To reflect the complexities of the tobacco epidemic, as well as the challenge of countering a very well-funded and powerful multinational industry, WHO FCTC negotiators included broad, encompassing treaty provisions to address demand reduction and supply reduction issues in Articles 6 and 8–17: Article 6. Price and tax measures to reduce the demand for tobacco. Article 8. Protection from exposure to tobacco smoke. Article 9. Regulation of the contents of tobacco products. Article 10. Regulation of tobacco product disclosures. Article 11. Packaging and labelling of tobacco products. Article 12. Education, communication, training and public awareness